Comments on: To the evangelist from Phnom Penh who handed out Christian literature to my young adults at school this morning http://nathanmnelson.com/2007/11/06/to-the-evangelist-from-phnom-penh-who-handed-out-christian-literature-to-my-young-adults-at-school-this-morning/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=to-the-evangelist-from-phnom-penh-who-handed-out-christian-literature-to-my-young-adults-at-school-this-morning ...work in progress Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:25:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: Margaret http://nathanmnelson.com/2007/11/06/to-the-evangelist-from-phnom-penh-who-handed-out-christian-literature-to-my-young-adults-at-school-this-morning/#comment-19355 Margaret Sun, 25 Nov 2007 14:08:24 +0000 http://www.spikydog.com/blog/2007/11/06/to-the-evangelist-from-phnom-penh-who-handed-out-christian-literature-to-my-young-adults-at-school-this-morning/#comment-19355 Coyote, I'm happy to say I've never "met" you, and have no wish to. The Oxford English dictionary defines compassion as "sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others," which is all very well, but of little value to the objects of your compassion if you don't act upon it. It's interesting to note that the word "pity" comes from the Latin "pietas", which means piety - something you probably value, but I regard as a meaningless waste of time. Nathan is my son, and I'm very proud of him because he's doing something to help other people without expecting anything in return. I regard the approach of evangelical missionaries as deeply unethical. As for fearing the Lord, and the beginning of wisdom: attempting to instil fear in your children is a form of child abuse, especially when you expect them to fear something that doesn't exist, and the beginning of wisdom is learning to think for yourself. Don't bother to respond. I know it's a waste of time trying to talk sense to faith-heads. Coyote, I’m happy to say I’ve never “met” you, and have no wish to.

The Oxford English dictionary defines compassion as “sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others,” which is all very well, but of little value to the objects of your compassion if you don’t act upon it. It’s interesting to note that the word “pity” comes from the Latin “pietas”, which means piety – something you probably value, but I regard as a meaningless waste of time.

Nathan is my son, and I’m very proud of him because he’s doing something to help other people without expecting anything in return. I regard the approach of evangelical missionaries as deeply unethical.

As for fearing the Lord, and the beginning of wisdom: attempting to instil fear in your children is a form of child abuse, especially when you expect them to fear something that doesn’t exist, and the beginning of wisdom is learning to think for yourself.

Don’t bother to respond. I know it’s a waste of time trying to talk sense to faith-heads.

]]> By: Nathan http://nathanmnelson.com/2007/11/06/to-the-evangelist-from-phnom-penh-who-handed-out-christian-literature-to-my-young-adults-at-school-this-morning/#comment-19354 Nathan Sun, 25 Nov 2007 13:21:50 +0000 http://www.spikydog.com/blog/2007/11/06/to-the-evangelist-from-phnom-penh-who-handed-out-christian-literature-to-my-young-adults-at-school-this-morning/#comment-19354 At least we know my name. Am I supposed to take comments seriously from people who call themselves Coyote? I know damn well what compassion is, and it has nothing to do with force feeding biblical passages to children in need of genuine help. Fear of the Lord is a sign of a delusional mind. Your son should be warned of that. At least we know my name. Am I supposed to take comments seriously from people who call themselves Coyote?

I know damn well what compassion is, and it has nothing to do with force feeding biblical passages to children in need of genuine help.

Fear of the Lord is a sign of a delusional mind. Your son should be warned of that.

]]> By: Coyote http://nathanmnelson.com/2007/11/06/to-the-evangelist-from-phnom-penh-who-handed-out-christian-literature-to-my-young-adults-at-school-this-morning/#comment-19353 Coyote Sun, 25 Nov 2007 13:14:37 +0000 http://www.spikydog.com/blog/2007/11/06/to-the-evangelist-from-phnom-penh-who-handed-out-christian-literature-to-my-young-adults-at-school-this-morning/#comment-19353 i've always warned my son of revealing all his ignorance at once, and now i've met the three stooges of cambodia, Nathan, Margaret, and Dough doh, who have done just that. you havent the foggiest of what true compassion is. remember, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. i’ve always warned my son of revealing all his ignorance at once, and now i’ve met the three stooges of cambodia, Nathan, Margaret, and Dough doh, who have done just that. you havent the foggiest of what true compassion is. remember, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

]]> By: dough http://nathanmnelson.com/2007/11/06/to-the-evangelist-from-phnom-penh-who-handed-out-christian-literature-to-my-young-adults-at-school-this-morning/#comment-19345 dough Thu, 08 Nov 2007 08:47:21 +0000 http://www.spikydog.com/blog/2007/11/06/to-the-evangelist-from-phnom-penh-who-handed-out-christian-literature-to-my-young-adults-at-school-this-morning/#comment-19345 Well my main observation is that telling people they're going to burn in hell or when the rapture comes unless they agree with you is hardly goodwill. Well my main observation is that telling people they’re going to burn in hell or when the rapture comes unless they agree with you is hardly goodwill.

]]> By: Nathan http://nathanmnelson.com/2007/11/06/to-the-evangelist-from-phnom-penh-who-handed-out-christian-literature-to-my-young-adults-at-school-this-morning/#comment-19343 Nathan Thu, 08 Nov 2007 03:35:48 +0000 http://www.spikydog.com/blog/2007/11/06/to-the-evangelist-from-phnom-penh-who-handed-out-christian-literature-to-my-young-adults-at-school-this-morning/#comment-19343 @ dough - why have these people always got to sound as if someone gatecrashed their child's birthday party, climbed on the dinner table and shat on the cake? And what has ungodliness in the UK got to do with sending gospel to poor kids? @ dough – why have these people always got to sound as if someone gatecrashed their child’s birthday party, climbed on the dinner table and shat on the cake? And what has ungodliness in the UK got to do with sending gospel to poor kids?

]]> By: Margaret http://nathanmnelson.com/2007/11/06/to-the-evangelist-from-phnom-penh-who-handed-out-christian-literature-to-my-young-adults-at-school-this-morning/#comment-19342 Margaret Wed, 07 Nov 2007 12:33:43 +0000 http://www.spikydog.com/blog/2007/11/06/to-the-evangelist-from-phnom-penh-who-handed-out-christian-literature-to-my-young-adults-at-school-this-morning/#comment-19342 This is them, I assume ... http://www.bookofhope.net/ Watch out - see their 'God Man' page - they have a visual aid for the 'benefit' of non-readers. This is them, I assume … http://www.bookofhope.net/

Watch out – see their ‘God Man’ page – they have a visual aid for the ‘benefit’ of non-readers.

]]> By: dough http://nathanmnelson.com/2007/11/06/to-the-evangelist-from-phnom-penh-who-handed-out-christian-literature-to-my-young-adults-at-school-this-morning/#comment-19341 dough Wed, 07 Nov 2007 11:52:51 +0000 http://www.spikydog.com/blog/2007/11/06/to-the-evangelist-from-phnom-penh-who-handed-out-christian-literature-to-my-young-adults-at-school-this-morning/#comment-19341 Today's letters page has this gem - "Mother's fear over Xmas charity boxes" ran your headline. Fear of what? What is there to fear about a message of goodwill at the time of Christ's birth? That's what Christmas is all about - love and kindness to those less fortunate than us. There's enough ungodliness in this country now as it is, killings, drugs etc...that's what I fear! Today’s letters page has this gem –

“Mother’s fear over Xmas charity boxes” ran your headline. Fear of what? What is there to fear about a message of goodwill at the time of Christ’s birth? That’s what Christmas is all about – love and kindness to those less fortunate than us. There’s enough ungodliness in this country now as it is, killings, drugs etc…that’s what I fear!

]]> By: dough http://nathanmnelson.com/2007/11/06/to-the-evangelist-from-phnom-penh-who-handed-out-christian-literature-to-my-young-adults-at-school-this-morning/#comment-19340 dough Tue, 06 Nov 2007 20:05:41 +0000 http://www.spikydog.com/blog/2007/11/06/to-the-evangelist-from-phnom-penh-who-handed-out-christian-literature-to-my-young-adults-at-school-this-morning/#comment-19340 My Samaritan's Purse article did elicit some response from Huddersfield's letter writers. Most felt it was unfair of me to deter people from giving gifts to the poor. Why does provoking the wrath of letter writing types bring me so much joy??? My Samaritan’s Purse article did elicit some response from Huddersfield’s letter writers. Most felt it was unfair of me to deter people from giving gifts to the poor. Why does provoking the wrath of letter writing types bring me so much joy???

]]> By: Margaret http://nathanmnelson.com/2007/11/06/to-the-evangelist-from-phnom-penh-who-handed-out-christian-literature-to-my-young-adults-at-school-this-morning/#comment-19338 Margaret Tue, 06 Nov 2007 13:34:50 +0000 http://www.spikydog.com/blog/2007/11/06/to-the-evangelist-from-phnom-penh-who-handed-out-christian-literature-to-my-young-adults-at-school-this-morning/#comment-19338 "... asking Khmers to pray in exchange for healthcare or food" is exactly what Victorian Christians used to do in the slums, and they had hymn-singing too. 19th century tactics in Cambodia. “… asking Khmers to pray in exchange for healthcare or food” is exactly what Victorian Christians used to do in the slums, and they had hymn-singing too. 19th century tactics in Cambodia.

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